And praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion. We long to be able, with unshaken confidence, to apply the promises of thy grace to ourselves; and to say, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. O say to our souls, in language our consciences can understand, I am thy salvation: and give us a token for good, that we may rejoice in Thee.

Yet, O God, we would not rest satisfied with a conviction of our relation to Thee, while we are regardless of improving it. May we walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might according to his gracious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. We can never discharge the obligations thy abundant mercy has laid us under; but may we ever shew that we are sensible of them; and that our impressed hearts are asking, what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? While we hear Thee saying, O do not that abominable thing which I hate, may we be effectually deterred from sin, and induced to watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation. May thy love be shed abroad in our hearts, that none of thy commandments may be grievous. May thy glory be dear to us: may we inquire after thy will with impartiality, and conform ourselves to it with diligence. Uphold us by thy free spirit; and let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.

But it

Hitherto we have been compelled to exclaim, my leanness, my leanness. We have been no better in .religion, than a bruised reed, or a smoking flax. is our mercy that Thou dost not despise the day of small things; and our encouragement;-that Thou givest

more grace; that Thou hast promised to perfect that which concerneth us; and commanded us to ask and receive that our joy may be full. May we, therefore, not only be humble but active; may we not only shake off sloth but despondency; may we be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might; and increase with allthe increase of God, till we are filled with all-the fulness of God.

Thou knowest what is in man, and what is necessary to him. Thou art not only addressing us continually by the voice of creation, and the varying events of thy providence, but Thou hast given us thy word and thine ordinances. We behold our sabbaths, our eyes see our teachers, and our ears hear the joyful sound of salvation by the cross, and the grace of our Lord Jesus. Prophets and righteous men desired to see the things that we see, and did not see them; and to hear the things that we hear, and did not hear them. But blessed are our eyes for they see, and our ears for they hear. Yet we would remember, that our responsibility will be answerable to our talents; that our chief danger results from our greatest privileges; and, that our very blessings may be converted into a curse. We would therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into thy rest, any of us should seem to come short of it.

Bless this family. May those of us who are at the head of it, walk within our house with a perfect heart, and set no wicked thing before our eyes. May we have a testimony in the bosoms of those who have the best opportunities of observing us, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by thy grace we have our conversation in the world, and more especially to them-ward. May we conduct ourselves towards those who serve us, as knowing that we have a Master in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons with God; and may our servants, in fulfilling the duties of

their station, serve the Lord Christ.

May we train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and have the inexpressible satisfaction of seeing them walk in the truth. We ask not great things for them of a worldly nature; only give them health of body and soundness of mind, and food and raiment convenient and sufficient for them: but, O, bless them with all spiritual blessings, and number them with thy saints in glory everlasting. Pity those parents whose hearts are bleeding over children of disobedience; and hear all the pious, whose irreligious relations are forcing them often to exclaim, How shall I endure to see the destruction of my kindred.

Hast not Thou made of one blood, all the nations of men that dwell upon the face of all the earth? Remember the work of thy hands. Have respect unto thy holy covenant; and let the world know, that Thou hast so loved it, as to give thy only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hear the prayers which have, this day, been offered for our native country, for our Rulers, and for the government under which we live. It is a good land which the Lord our God hath given us: Thou hast done great things for us, whereof we are glad. May we never grow insensible of our privileges, and provoke Thee, by our sins to remove them. May they be continued to the latest posterity; and be sanctified to us, and to our children. As Thou hast given us such a distinguished rank among the nations, may we be for a name and a praise unto Thee, in the whole earth and as we are so largely the subjects of thy goodness, may we be the instruments too; and from us may the word of the Lord sound out into every land.

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Now, unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the

power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

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MONDAY MORNING.

O THOU God of all grace; the Father of mercies; the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble-Why hast Thou revealed Thyself in such lovely characters, and endearing relations, but to meet our dejections, to remove our fears, and induce us to say, it is good for me to draw nigh to God.

We come to Thee as criminals to be pardoned, as beggars to obtain relief, and as friends to enjoy communion with the God of love. We bow with submission and gratitude, to the method which Thou hast appointed and made known for all intercourse between Thee and us. We approach Thee, through him in whom Thou hast proclaimed Thyself well pleased, pleading the propitiation of his blood, and making mention of his righteousness, and of his only.

But we can have access to Thee through him onlyby one Spirit-that Spirit, the residue of which is with Thee, and which has actuated the souls of thy people, in all ages. O give thy Holy Spirit to them that now ask Thee. May He open the eyes of our understanding, and convince us of sin. May He humble the pride of our self-righteous hearts, and expel us from every refuge of lies. May He glorify Christ in our wants, desires, dependance, and application; and take of the things of Christ, and shew them to us. May we be enabled to receive the Lord Jesus in all his blessings and treasures; and though now we see Him not, yet believing may we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glo

ry. In all the distresses of conscience, in all the afflictions of life, and in all the dissatisfactions necessarily experienced in creature-enjoyments, may we repair, weary and heavy laden to Him, who has promised to give us rest. May the vanity of the world wean us from its pursuits and may the tribulation of the world endear the peace which no storm can prevent or destroy.

May we arise and depart hence may we confess ourselves to be only strangers and pilgrims upon earth; and declare plainly, too plainly to be misunderstood, that we seek a better country, even an heavenly. Prepare us for all the allotments of this short, and changing, and uncertain life. May we have a safe passage out of it, and a comfortable passage through it; and be useful while we are in it. May we continually illustrate in our character and conduct, the representations Thou hast given of thy people, as the dew of heaven, the salt of the earth, the light of the world. May we never deem it enough to be blameless and harmless; but may our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven. May we never be ashamed of Jesus or of his words; never be deterred from the prosecution of a known duty by the fear of man; and never be discouraged from attempting it, by a consciousness of our own weakness. Having thy sanction and presence may we be strong and courageous; and be steadfast, and unmoveable ;-always abounding in the work of the Lord.

What we know not teach Thou us. Lead us into all truth. May we see divine things in a divine light, that while they inform our judgment they may sanctify the heart, and consecrate the whole life to the service and glory of God. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou us from secret faults. Search us O God and know our hearts, try us and know our thoughts, and see if